photos by Kristel Boucher – Dissimulator
The Montreal trio will follow its debut with a nine-track sophomore album on October 2, while lead preview “Alloyed” examines humanity’s relationship with technology.
Montreal death/thrash trio Dissimulator will return with its second full-length album, Artifice Dissolves, on October 2, 2026, through 20 Buck Spin.
The nine-track record follows the band’s debut, Lower Form Resistance, and continues Dissimulator’s combination of death metal, thrash and technical songwriting within a science-fiction framework. Ahead of the October release, the group has shared “Alloyed,” one of the album’s early previews.
Dissimulator consists of drummer Phillipe Boucher, guitarist and vocalist Claude Leduc and bassist Antoine Daigneault, musicians whose other credits include Chthe’ilist, Atramentus, Beyond Creation and Incandescence. On Artifice Dissolves, the trio expands on the futuristic concepts established through its earlier material while maintaining an emphasis on intricate riffing, abrupt rhythmic movement and aggressive pacing.
Technology is more than an aesthetic backdrop to the album. “Alloyed” specifically addresses the relationship between human beings and the machines they create, drawing from German philosopher Günther Anders’ concept of “Promethean shame.”
“‘Alloyed’ is a philosophical musing about Günther Anders’ concept of Promethean shame – the idea that deep down human beings feel inferior or diminished against the perfection of their technological creations,” Leduc explained.
According to Leduc, the song uses the idea of becoming fully cybernetic to explore self-alienation and the consequences of viewing technological creation as something inherently superior to humanity.
“It is a reminder that the real danger of our relationship to technology is not that machines will surpass humans, but that humans will lower themselves to machines,” he added.
That concept fits into the larger world surrounding Artifice Dissolves, which examines technological dominance, cybernetic transformation and societal decline through Dissimulator’s science-fiction perspective. Songs including “Neon Metropolis,” “Proprioceptor” and the title track further establish the record’s technological imagery across its nine-song running order.
The album’s production was divided among several contributors. Xavier Berthiaume recorded the drums at Productions Tehom, while the band handled the majority of the remaining recording. Laurent Bellemare contributed additional vocals to several tracks. The material was subsequently reamped, mixed and mastered by Hugues Deslauriers at Roarrrsoundsstudio.
The visual presentation accompanying the record includes artwork from Noah Cutter Meihoff, whose credits include work with Ghost and Imperial Triumphant. Audrey Pasquini of Bangs! Studio handled the layout, with photography provided by Kristel Boucher.
“Alloyed” is currently available to stream through Bandcamp and YouTube. Additional material from Artifice Dissolves is expected to surface ahead of the album’s October release.
Album Information
Artist: Dissimulator
Album: Artifice Dissolves
Release Date: October 2, 2026
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Formats: LP, CD and digital
Track Listing
Apophenic Rage
Hungry Ghosts
Artifice Dissolves
Alloyed
Proprioceptor
Dusk
Neon Metropolis
Anodyne
Robostrobos
Band Lineup
Phillipe Boucher — Drums
Claude Leduc — Guitar, Vocals
Antoine Daigneault — Bass
Production Credits
Drum Recording: Xavier Berthiaume at Productions Tehom
Additional Vocals: Laurent Bellemare on select tracks
Reamping, Mixing and Mastering: Hugues Deslauriers at Roarrrsoundsstudio
Artwork: Noah Cutter Meihoff
Layout: Audrey Pasquini / Bangs! Studio
Photography: Kristel Boucher
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